Hong Kong’s specialized forensic police units deployed today to begin the painstaking process of evidence recovery and victim identification following the catastrophic five-alarm fire that engulfed Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The blaze, which tragically claimed 128 lives, injured over 70, and left approximately 200 people unaccounted for, triggered a massive response. On Friday morning, November 29, command initiated a methodical operation, signaling the start of an investigation expected to last several weeks.
By late morning, 600 members of the Police Disaster Victim Identification Unit (DVIU) converged on the residential estate. The deployment followed an early announcement by Security Secretary Chris Tang confirming the police would initiate an extensive evidence-gathering mission within the fire-damaged buildings.
Forensic Teams Begin Critical Mission
Clad in full white protective suits and blue helmets, DVIU personnel formed ranks near a local sports ground around 9 a.m. This high-level mobilization culminated around 11:20 a.m. when the entire contingent entered the buildings. Officers were observed carrying specialized equipment, including insulated polystyrene containers, and carefully removing items believed to be physical evidence from the scene. Given the scale of the devastation, the unit’s primary, immediate objective is the systematic recovery and identification of the deceased, alongside securing a comprehensive evidential record for the subsequent inquiry.
The DVIU, a cornerstone of the Police Criminal Investigation Training Wing, was established in 1975. This elite team, composed of nearly 640 specially trained, part-time officers, was formed directly in response to the operational lessons learned during the devastating Po Shan Road landslide in 1972. That disaster highlighted the urgent need for a structured, professional capacity to manage mass-casualty incidents, including large-scale fires, explosions, and air or maritime calamities.
Precision and Protocol in Disaster Zones
The DVIU employs rigorous scientific protocols to ensure maximum efficiency and evidential integrity at expansive disaster sites. Operations commence with the division of the scene into a precise search grid, often utilizing aerial imagery. Teams, working in highly controlled formations, proceed in linear fashion, focusing on one set of remains at a time to prevent cross-contamination. Every discovery—including the exact location, time, condition, and any associated personal effects—is meticulously logged.
Technological advancements have enhanced the unit’s capability, notably the introduction of a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system since 2015. Developed in collaboration with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the system allows officers to digitally tag the precise recovery position of each decedent, ensuring an accurate and reliable record that runs parallel with traditional paper documentation.
For recovery and transfer, officers utilize specialized 10-pound kits containing various sized body bags, markers, light excavation tools, and portable imaging devices. Movement into and out of the search zones is strictly managed, including mandatory decontamination procedures.
Identification and Supporting Families
Once recovered, remains are sealed, labeled, and transferred to a temporary mortuary. The identification process is multifaceted, utilizing personal indicators such as clothing, jewelry, and distinguishing marks (like tattoos), supplemented by DNA or fingerprint analysis conducted by the Government Laboratory. The final confirmation is provided by next-of-kin, integrating humanitarian and forensic efforts under the coroner’s direction.
The nature of this work, often involving tragic circumstances and the handling of severely compromised remains, necessitates robust psychological support for the officers. DVIU members are mandated to meet with a police clinical psychologist within one week of deployment, with follow-up mental health checks confirming recovery within four to six weeks in most cases.
The investigation into the Wang Fuk Court fire is expected to be lengthy and complex. The methodical deployment of the DVIU underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to providing rapid, professional, and humane handling of the tragic consequences, ensuring that both families and the official inquiry receive the necessary evidence and closure.